Shadow detail in soft proofing

[Bill Jaynes]

Hello,
     Thanks to suggestions here, we started printing with profiles last year and have been getting generally good results. We proof on Epson Enhanced Matte because of its brightness and great low cost. Then we print finished work on USFAP or Moab Entrada Bright. So far so good. [BTW, by using the Enhanced Matte profile with the Entrada but setting paper to Wclr as recommended, there is startling agreement between the two papers]
     What is a little baffling is that when viewing landscape images in soft proof [and toggling back and forth] the shadow areas seem to block up, acquire a slight solarized appearance and just generally poop out. This is actually the case when selecting a variety of other profiles in soft proof including that for USFAP, Entrada and Hahnemuhle.
     Attempting to resurrect the desired look in the shadow areas isn't very succesful so far. Prints also appear weak in these areas so it is a real issue.
     Can anyone familiarize me with what I'm up against here or suggest remedies?
Thanks
Bill Jaynes

[mmurph]

Prints also appear weak in these areas so it is a real issue.

The only real question to ask about a softproof is "Does it match the print?"

It is not clear from your post whether what you see in the softproof is actually what you see on the print. If it is, then the question is how to adjust your image to improve the shadow detail in the print.

If the softproof is not an accurate reperesentation of the print, then you need to calibrate your monitor or get a better profile. Or, change your check box options in the softproof, or change your expectations about how close soft proofing will get you to the print.

Can you clarify - is the softproof accurate??